davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
Imitation Stones.

Tho success with which art can copy
nature in tho manufacture Of counterfeit
gems is something remarkable. A cor
respondent of the Pail Mall Budget men,
tions several of tho processes used in tho
imitation Of precious stones--one of them
being tho method of producing what
are called 'doublets. These are
topazos, on which thin slice of diamond
is laid. The topaz gives depth to the
composition, and the diamond adds
lustrc, and the result is sold as very
satisfactory diamond.
Zircons arc composed Of silica and
zirconia, and their value is compara-
lively trifing. Their lustrc is very de-
ceptivc, and means has been discov-
cred of extracting the color, that leaves
them diamonds, to all appearances, al
though their falseness proclaims itself
under tests.
Precious stones are frequently dyed,
and with such thoroughness that the
stone may be broken without ones dis
covering any proof of the process.
The village of Obcrstcin, not far from
the Rhine, dcvotcs itself to the making
of imitation jcwclry, and the dyeing of
chalcedony and other stones. The onyx,
carnelian, bloodstone and agate may be
enriched in color by immersion in tho
dye-pot. The stones arc placed in ves-
sells containing the coloring matter, and
then subjected to great heat, for periods
varying from few hours to fortnight
or more. In the case of chalcedony,
which has bands of different degrees of
density, certain bands take the color
and others do not; tho stone then has a
further stewing in pots containing other
dyes.
Fluorspar is capable Of great improve
ment in tint by being subjected to a
heating process, and crucidolitc is now
treated to successful method of obtain
ing striking hue of blood-red.
Tho cat's-eyc and emerald are all
stones the most easily initiated. One
family at Obcrstcin possesses the secret
of converting crucidolite into cat's-eyc,
which may also be made of aragonite,
some Of the hornblendes and even
fibrous gypsum. Youths Companion.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
Tho Cars Wrists of Steel.

During the Cars visit to Copenhagen
a German conjurer was giving an exhi-
bition of his skill before a royal party at
Fredensborg when the Car took up the
pack of cards with which the presti-
digitateur had been operating and said:
81 will show You another trick, but l
doubt whether you will be able to add
it TO your repertoire. ," The Car then
tore the pack of fifty-two cards in two
without apparently the slightest effort.
The Snowman produced another pack
and tried to initiate his example but in
vain; only those possessing wrists of
steel can in this case follow suit. 1t is
no trick, but the exercise of almost
superhuman strength. A few minutes
later the Car called for silver dollar
and bent it double between the thumb
and foreanger OF his right hand.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
Imitation Jellies.

A year or two since man in the town
Of Oswego found himself with largo
crop Of red currants, and, as the price in
the market was too low to permit him to
sell them at profit, he manufactured
them into "jam," or sicily" using the
best Of sugar, and producing most ex-
cellent article, which he imagined
would sell to families and hotels readily.
He found the hotels supplied with a
cheap, impure article, manufactured
from gluten and acids and colored to
resemble somewhat IN color and taste
currant jelly, which the landlords told
him answered every purpose, as the
boarders didn't know the difference,
and it could be procured at rate much
lower than he could afford to sell the
pure, delicious, wholesome article, be-
cause they sold at retail an article which
answered the purpose" even lower than
he could afford his at
wholesale. Tho result was the
enterprising man, who thought
he would do the people great kindness
by furnishing them with pure, deli
cious article of currant jelly at cost
less than they could manufacture it
themselves, had a large quantity on
hand to send to friends and to pass
around Sin cases of Sickness" etc.
But we haven't heard of his manufac-
turing any more 'pure currant jelly
for market. A few years since a
gentleman in Union village started the
manufacture of apple-jelly, and he
produced a very pure and delicious
article, which should have commanded
a ready sale at hotels, bakeries and
in families, for the table and for pies,
tarts, etc. But the business did mot
prosper, we think. At all events, it
was suspended. An inferior article,
made up largely of authorizations, which
answered the purpose, took the trade
-[Oswcgo On. " Times.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
A Cure for Whooping Cough.

A medical journal gives the following
cure for whooping- cough, which is said
to be most cffectual The method con-
sists in fumigating with sulphur the
sleeping-room, as well as any other
room used by the patient, together with
his bedding, clothes, toys and every
thing which he uses. The sulphur is
simply burned in the apartments, while
the clothes are hung up in any conven-
lent manner, and the rooms remain
closed, and subjected to the fumes for
about five hours. Everything is then
we'll aired, and the rooms are once more
ready for the occupation of the sufferer.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
California Sheep.Shearers.

Still further south is the Nejuil Ranch,
comprising four thousand acres. Chief
amo ng its possessions are the vast herds
of sheep sthat wander over its broad
domains. Perhaps nothing is more in
terestiug than to watch the processes by
which the wool is obtained. The sheep
shearers are mostly of Mexican origin,
and when they put in their appearance
present a picturesque sight, with their
gay neckerchicfs and swarthy counte-
nauccs. They would do we'll in pic
ture, but as human beings they are to be
avoided. Cruelty and love of gaming
are their chief characteristics. They
snip snip the sheep, and if they take
out piece of flesh with the wool, they
snip out another alongside, to make it
nice and even, meanwhile chanting some
queer little rune. Then vat of acids is
prepared, into which they drop
the poor creatures, old sheep and
little lambs, humping them down
with poles, in order that they
may be we'll immersed, not caring for
the raw, tender flesh exposed by their
brutality, nor for the fccblcness of the
lambs, which scarcely know which way
to go. The old sheep, which has passed
through several seasons of this sort of
thing, Immediately swims through the
vat to the place of cgress, and passes
out; not so the lamb, which struggles
and strangles, with that cruel pole push
ing it down under the bitter waters, not
knowing what to do. Many of them
arc thus drowned, and the imp-like
shearer, uttering an ugly oath, fishes
them out. At night these inhumau
beings sit up and gamble away every
dime earned through the day to the
sharpers who follow in their wake, but
the next day go to work again, chant
ing and shipping with accustomed
celebrity. - Cosmopolitan Magazine.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
How T,icorice il Made.

'1t is almost an impossibility," said
well-known New York pharmacist re-
Gently to Mail and Express reporter,
"to tell how much licorice is really con-
sumed by people in the city of New
York. The amount is almost incredi-
BILE, and probably reaches thousands of
pounds annually"
'How is the drug obtain ed" was
asked.
"a species of licorice is found on the
shores of Lake Erie, though a good deal
comes from further West. The plant
from which it is obtained is called gly-
cyrrhlza. 1t grows very erect, to tho
height of about four or five feet, and
has few branches. 1t bears a flower
formed like that of pea, but Of violet
or purple color. The root in its raw state
is well known as the 'licorice root of COM
merce. 1t attains q length of several
feet and is often an inch in diameter.
When the root has attained the age of
three years it is taken up and from this,
before it becomes dried, is made the ex-
tract of licorice, sometimes known as
Spanish licorice. This juice is prepared
by boiling the root with water; the de-
coction is then decanted off and evapo-
rated to proper consistence for forming
the substance into sticks, five or six
inches long and an inch in diameter;
these are the Spanish licorice of COM
merce.
rs not the article adulterated2"
eyes, it is often nothing else than a
mixture of the juice with the worst kind
of gum arabic. Metallic copper scrapcd
off the evaporating pans is very fire.
quently present, and starch and flour
sometimes constitute nearly one-half of
| the substances
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
The Hurricane Geyser.

The most wonderful Of all the wonders
at the Norris Basin, Yellow Stone Park,
is known as the Hurricane Geyscr. 1t
is recent outbreak, scarcely year old,
The crater is about twenty by thirty
feet, and is incloscd in a solid wall of
rock, about ten feet in depth, to the
surface of the water, and no one can tell
how far below this rocky inclosure ex-
tends. Several days ago we could sit
on the north end of this rock rib and
watch the torrid waves rush down the
inclosure, strike the wall beneath our
feet and sink into the earth, to reappcar
at the upper end with undiminished
force. Now, eight days later we find
that the boiling food shoots out over the
wall where we formerly sat.
The Hurricane presents the appearance
of q revolving liquid globe. There is a
huge bowldcr in the center of the quad
rangular crater, over which the water
dashes with such force as to give it the
appearance of an immense wheel in per-
petual motion. The intense heat may
be realized, in a measure, when it is
stated that the rocks ten feet from the
edge are so hot that the naked hand can
only be held on them for an instant.
The water is turbid and bears evidence
of the fact that the subterranean cham
bers are being enlarged. They are evil
IDENTIFY absorbing the material that has
been discharged at other geysers. =
Pioneer Press.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
HUMOROUS.

In search of change-a begging
tramp.
Another Indian outbreak is reported
in Arizona; it is whooping cough this
time.
The infant, as well as the politician,
is generally Gin the hands of his
friends"
Life is not all sunshine for the tramp.
There is good deal of dish-water
thrown in.
A woman's scorn is not to be trifed
with. Especially when you step on it
in crowd.
The pen is mighticr than the sword,
but an argument from either is likely
to be very pointed.
II thought you took an unusual in
tercst in my welfare" " remarked an ua-
successful lover. "No, indeed" she
replied; "only in your farewell"
Robinson---H Jones! Been away
shooting for couple of weeks, haven't
you2 Jones---Yes. Roblnson---Well,
what did you bag9 Joncs---my trous-
ers.
Henri-Jules and Alphonse quarre,ed
and fought duel yesterday, but for
tunately neither was injured. Maxine
What was there between them2 Henri
fifty PAGES.
Caller Ito Mrs. Hendricks)---Y
daughters husband is an A. NJ, is he
not, Mrs. Hendricksl Mrs. Hendricks
"a trifle sourly) Yes, he is about Q
o'clock A. NJ.
A scientific exchange asks: "What is
rotary motion2" Why, it is that ex-
pericnced by drunken man when lying
fiat on his back and clutching the side
walk for fear he'd fall off.
An eggshell is said to be strong
enough to support a mans weight, but
the man who puts half dozen in his
coat tail pocket and steps on banana
peel cannot be made to believe it.
Nervous lady passenger Gn the train,
after passing temporary bridge)-
Thank goodness, we are now on terra
frma! Facetious gentleman-Ycs,
ma'am-less terror and more firmer.
An exchange says: ga potato that
weighed eleven pounds was raised by
man in Lawrence county, Ark" Tho
Arkansas men must be powerful weak"
if this is considered remarkable feat
of strength.
The best explanation of the phrase
"between the two horns of dilemma
is boy on top of an orchard wall, with
dog impaticntly waiting for him on
one side and the owner of the premises,
with cowhide, on the other.
"What did you marry my soa for9'
fercely demanded an old gentleman of
clergyman who had just united his
runaway scapegrace in the holy bonds.
"Two dollars, SIR" meekly replied the
dominic, "to be charged to YOU"
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
The Discontinued BiyaIye.

There was once an oyster which lay
peac cfully in its bed at the bottom Of
an ocean. "Alas~ it sighed, "Why am
l doomed to such dull, unbearable ex-
istence1 Here am, with no opportu-
nifty to taste the joys of life and go out
into the world to see for myself and
penetrate its mysteries"
"You don't know what you are talk
ing about" replied its next door neigh
Dor. "Your life is most enviable one,
free as it is from all danger and respon-
sibility."
'Don't be clam" snapped out the
discontented one. 81 long to travel. !
have some ambition to rise in the
world"
Just then an oyster boat came along
and gave the complaining bivalve lift.
"Ah," it murmured, "fortune favors
me at last"
A few days afterward the oyster was
drifting aimlessly about in a restaurant
stew.
ooh, why did I wish to leave my
home under the water" he sobbed, as
he skipped out of the way of the spoon
of the customer, who had paid twenty
five cents for him. 81 thought I was
lonely there, but l did not know what
solitude was until I came here. never
before appreciated its horrors till now.
There is a remedy in suicide, and /
embrace it gladly"
Saying this, he climbed up on the side
of the dish, where the customer could
sec him, and was devoured.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
Nationality of European Monarchs.

1t is curious fact that there is hardly
reigning monarch in Europe whose
family is of the same nationality, pur
sang, as the people governed. The
house of Austria is really the house Of
Lorraine, and even in their origin the
Hapsburgs were Swiss. And ii the En-
peror Francis Joseph be not, strictly
speaking, an Austrian, still less he Is
Hungarian, although he is king OF Hun
gary. The king of tho Bclgians is a
Sake Coburg; the monarch OF Spain Is
Bourban; the king of Italy Savoyard;
the king of Roumania and Prince Ferdi-
nand of Bulgaria are both foreigners;
the founder of the Bernandotte dynasty
In Sweden was born at Pau less than a
century and quarter ago; the czar is
Holstein Gottorp. and tie king Of the
Holsteiner. Even in our own royal
family there is very little English blood
left. The Hohenzollerns were originally
Suabians, and therefore rtly Bavarian
and partly Swiss. Neither was the his
toric house of Orange, in which patriot
ism has nearly always been the first in-
stinct, Dutch to begin with. Il ST.
James Gazette.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
As Appointed.

Two men went forth ons summer hour,
And both were young, and brave and true;
Two loyal hearts, two brains Of power,
Eager to dare and do
Each followed right, each turned from
wrong,
And strove his errors to outlive;
Each sought with hope and courage strong
Tho best life has to give.
For one loves fountain yielded up
It's sweetest---royslly he quafred;
The other drank brimful cup
A bitter, bitter draught
One touched but stones, they changed to
gold,
Wealth came and stayed at his command;
The others silver turned to mould
And dust within his hand.
The world crowned one with leaves Of bay;
He ate with kings, their honors shared;
The other trod barren way
And few men knew or cared.
And this life; to sow, one reaps;
To abreast one gains the goal;
One laughs aloud, the other weeps
In anguish of his soul.
One seems Of fate the helpless toy,
Unbroken ones triumphant chain;
God hath appointed one to joy,
Appointed one to pain.
Tho wisdom that doth rule the world
Is wisdom far beyond our KEN
But when all seems to ruin hurled,
Gods hand is mighty then.
In Gods appointments believe,
Trusting His love, believe in this:
That though from day to day men grieve;
And life's sweet fruitage miss.
In some glad future they shall know
When one through striving may not win !;
The Book of Life will surely show
Why oil these things have been.
youths Companion.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
Child.WidoWs in India.

There wcra in British India, by the
census of 1881, no less than 207, 3SS
widows under IA years of age, and 7S,-
976 of these were under o. They can
no longer legally be burnt, but their
widowhood is viewed by all Hindoos as
the punishment for horrible crimes COM
mitted in some previous existence. They
are closely confined to one meal a day,
which they eat in solitude; obliged to
conceal themselves in the morning lest
the sight of them bring bad fortune on
the beholder; and all this for life
Albany Journal.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
The Sunnort of Atlas.

'sNow, Mary Ann said the teacher,
addressing the foremost of the class in
mythology, "who was it that supported
the world on his shoulders?"
s'It was Atlas, ma am"
"And who supported Atlas2"
'Thc book doesn't say, but guess
his wife supported him. ."-IChicago
National.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
PRICE THREEECENTS.
Tho Rain.

The ra'a! the rainl tho RANT
It pushed from the skies and streamed
Like awful tears, and the sick man Thoughts
How pitiful it seemed;
And he turned his face away
And stared at the wall again
His hopes nigh dead and heart worn out,
Oh, the rain! the RANT tho rain
The rain! the rainl the rain'
And the broad stream brimmed the shores
And ever the river crept over the reeds
And the roots Of the sycamores;
A corpse swirled by in the drift
Where the boat had snapt its chain
And hoarse-voiced mother shrleked and
raved
Oh, the rain! the rain the rain!
The rain! the rain! tho rain
Pouring, with never pause,
Over the fields and the green byways-
How beautiful it was
And the new-mado man and wife
Stood at the window-pane
Like two glad children kept from school,
Oh, the rain! the rainl the rain
flames Whitcomb Riley.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
Eycellnnf Prnsnncfs

'You want the hand of my daughter,
youa Why, you haven't anything to
support her with"
"True, sir, I am poor now, but 1
have excellent prospects
What prospects have you ~
'Why, sir, if marry your daughter I'll
have one of the richest wives in town."
-[Chicago News
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
Youtl, and Age.

Omaha Child-Mamma, that old lady
in the corner is---
Mamma--H Hush. That is Miss Spin
.ster! You must not call her old.
81 wonder how young she is2'
81 don't know"
81 guess she must be about forty
years young. ~ -T0maha Herald
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
Comforting.

Telegram of Poet to Editor---Send me
check for my poem "The Mystery Of the
Stars" or l shall starve to death
Telegram of Editor to Poet---f you
starve to death you won't need check
Yankee Blade.
The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-01
TEE LONDONDERRY SITTER.

A-Entered At the Post-ofhos a. south
Londonderry, A. second class matter.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-01-26
WORSE THAN KANSAS.

A gentleman from Ottumwa, To-, in
forms the Chicago News that while un-
der the high-license law his city had
twenty-five saloons, which paid S22,-
600 annually into the city treasury; it
now has under the prohibition law sew
enty-Gve saloons which pay no license.
but run with open doors, unmolested
save now and then when a cOnYulsion
of reform seizes the people and they de-
mand the prosecution of some saloon
keeper. Yet in no case. he says, has
the prosecution been able to punish the
offender. The drug stores all sell liquor,
one of them using "a carload of beer a
week. The town, which has only about
1900 inhabitants, is dotted with "res-
taurants" which serve liquors as a main
business, and have incidental lunch
counters. THE trouble is" says he,
1--WE have three or four elections every
year, and for three or four months pre-
vious to each election everybody who is
interested IN politics-and that. OF
course, includes most of the men whose
duty 1t is TO enforce the LAWS bent on
securing votes and therefore unwilling
10 antagOnize the large number of vot-
ers who do not believe in prohibition. 3"
In Georgia the case isno better. Tie
leading prohibition paper in that state
says: AS a prohibition paper that has
fought for that side because we believed
the people of Atlanta had the nerve to
carry it out, and it properly carried out
1t would prove q blessing, we now feel
it our duty to pronounce it dead fail
ure in Atlanta. In fact, whisky and
beer are sold almost as much as ever,
only the city gets nothing for it.
Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-01-26

Chief Justice Horton, i'm his address
before the State Bar Association, says
of capital punishment: Il believe that
who sheddeth mans blood, by men
shall his blood be she'd and that the
death penalty should be fully restored.
Think that society already spares the
lives of too many Of its vicious men,
bers, and that the more frequent inflic-
ton of the death penalty, rather than
its abolition, is demanded by the high
est considerations Of public welfare,
and the public safety. AS long as hu-
man nature is on its present plane IF
development. so long will it demand
life for life, blood for blood. While the
legislature has virtually abolished hang
ing atrocious murderers, without legal
fOrmaiities, has steadily increased. The
opponents of capital punishment, seem
satisfied with what they consider the
progress of legislation IN this respect,
and yet murlerers are executed almost
each month by lynch law; thus public
lynchings, with all their demorallzing
and brutalizing influences, have been
substituted for legal penalties" The
Judge notes results as follows: II do
aot think the experience Of the state
since the suspension of the execution of
capital sentences justifies the belief
that it would be beneficial to society TO
have capital punishment unconditional
" abolished. On January l, Of The
present year, there were fifty-one muir
derers in the Tenitentiaiy Of the state
under sentence of death, and more of
same class are on their way to that
institution. During the past few years
mOrs fiendish and brutal murders have
been committed in Kansas than ever
before since it's admission as a state. .